Device for the production of concrete pipes and especially for devices for applying the concrete



A ril 19 1927. ,123

p A. HORTEN DEVICE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CONCRETE PIPES AND ESPECIALLY FOR DEVICES FOR APPLYING THE CONCRETE Filed June 29. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 7 2 940 Z] 30 J0 I Y v '1 r j 41 v 4:? 5g T kg Inventor vQZphons ugorten I ugttorneys 19 1927. 1,625,123 Apnl A. HORTEN DEVICE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CONCRETE PIPES .AND ESPECIALLY FOR DEVICES FOR APPLYING THE CONCRETE Filed June 29. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor'- vQZ vhons florten,

Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALPHONS HORTEN, OF BERLIN WILMERSDORF,,GERMAN'Y.

DEVICE FOR THE rnonuc'rron or CONCRETE PIPES AND ESPECIALLY on. DEVICES 4 FOR APPLYINQTHE CONCRETE.

Application filed June 29, 1928, Serial No. 119,500, and in Germany September. 24, 1925.

finely divided state and in an ex- In my prior application Serial No. 4015 dated January 7th,

1925, I have described a device suitable for this purpose and exhibiting in particular a feed cylinder which is filled with ready m xed concrete and delivers this uniformly, 1n a thin continuous length, by the aid of a power-driven piston, to a centrifugal wheel which projects it against the core. My pres ent invention relates to a further development of this feed device, and more particularly to a suitable arrangement of the whole and to details of the centrifugal wheel and feed cylinder.

The invention is illustrated in the drawin in which I ig. 1 represents the entire plant, in a somewhat diagrammatical form, certaln parts being shown, for the sake of clearness, on a larger scale than other parts represented in the same figure.

. F ig. 2 is a horizontal section along the line 11-11 of Fig. 1, in partial section and with some of the parts omitted.

Fig. 3 shows a centrifugal wheel, as a side elevation and in partial section, on a larger scale.

Fig. 4 isan elevation of same. I v r Fig. 5 shows, on a still larger scale, a special form of the device for feeding the concrete, coa'cting with a single vane of the centrifugal wheel. p

Figs. 6 and 7 are representations, corresponding to Figs. 3 and 4 of another form "of centrifugal wheel.

The total arrangement will first be described wi'th reference to Fig. 1. 2 is a cylindrical core or former the end 3 of which is-thickened to form a flange or socket; '4 is a shaft for this core rotatably supported at it is necessary to apply'theconcretebotlrends in a suitable manner; 5 is a pinion gear; and 6 is an electromotor that drives the pinions 5 and therefore the shaft 4. The arrangement :is' such that the electromotor turns the shaft 4 at a low speed when started.

It is clear that the pinion gear shown is merely intended to represent a speed-reduction gear, and that, in reality, a train of pinlons, worm wheels and the like, may be The smooth surface of the core 2 shown can be covered with an iron reinforcement for the pipe to be formed, at a suitable moment in the process of manufacture, as described in my application, Serial No. 89483, so that no further details and descrip-v tion seem to be necessary .on the present carrying the hereinafter described parts for the centrifugal device and provided on both sides with sliding shoes 11, which fit the guides 7 and are firmly secured to the frame interposed between the motor and the shaft.

10 by any known m'eans. Two draft ropes 12 and 13 are attached to the upper side of the frame, preferably in the manner indi- 'cated; The rope 12 passes over guide pulleys 14, 15 to a counterweight 16, which balances a large proportion of the weight of the frame and the parts mounted thereon, so that only a very small-effort is required for lifting, which is effected by means of the rope 13. The lifting rope 13 passes over a pulley 17 to a tw0-sheave block tackle 18,

the bottom part-of which, 19, is connected -'to the rod20 of a piston 21 adapted to slide in a cylinder 22. 23 is a pipe which .opens into the cylinder 22' above the piston 21'; and water under pressure can be admitted through a valve 24, from a pipe 25,

to the upperv side of the piston, whilst, on' the valve 24 being closed, the opening of a second valve 26 enables water to pass" from the cylinder intoa discharge'pipe 28. If

the valve 26 be closed and the valve 24 open,

so that water under pressure passes into the cylinder 22, the piston 21 descends and draws the, rope. 13 downward. Thexprorate of flow vision of the two-sheave block tackle enables, in the well known manner, a short piston stroke to correspond to an increased or multiplied movement of the end of the rope that is attached to the frame 10.

The valves 24, 26 may be controlled by hand, or may be controlled automatically (by means not shown) in such a manner thatthe valve 24 is opened and the valve 26 closed when the frame 10 and its appurtenances have reached the bottom of the track 7, and that, conversely, the valve 24 is closed and the valve 26 opened when the frame reaches the upper end of its travel. In this way the frame 10 is raised or lowered in relation to the floor 8 and the core 2 in accordance with the admission of the pressure medium and its discharge therefrom. There is no need to. explain further that the various operations can be performed at the desired speed by suitably dimensioning or throttling the passages III the valves 24 and 26.

The means for feeding and projecting the concrete on to the core, which means are mounted on the frame 10, will now be described.

Said frame 10 carries two cylinders 29 and 30 mounted in coaxial alignment. The

cylinder 29 contains a piston 31, on both sides of which pipes 32, 33 open into the cylinder. These pipes lead to a reversing valve 34 of any suitable kind, by means of which they' can be connected, at will, with a pipe 35 admitting water under pressure, or a discharge pipe 36. To simplify the explanation, it is assumed that the pipe 35 leads direct to a force pump 37, connected, by means of a pipe 38, which opens the pipe 36. It will be evident that accumulator devices can be provided for the pressure water in known manner, and that the delivery pipe can be provided withthrottling devices for controlling the of the water in order, in this manner, toenable the pressure on either side ofthe piston 31 to be regulated at will. 1

The pipe 25 may also be connected with the pump 37, and the pipe 28 led to the tank 39. These connecting pipes have been omitted solely in order to make the draw-t ing clearer.

- With the valve 34 in the position shown, the pressure water produced in 'the pump 37 passes to the left side ofthe piston 31, and tendsto drive it towards the right, whilst the water situated on the right of the piston can run away through the pipe 33, valve 34 and pipe 36. .Turning. the valve clock- :wise through 90 causes the pressure water to flow in the opposite direction. It is clear that minor adjustmentswill also enable the velocity of the piston 31 to be controlled. The rod 40 of the piston 31 is connected to. a piston 41 adapted to travel in the second cylinder 30.

with a tank 39, into The upper side of the cylinder 30 is provided with a feed hopper 42, the bottom of which is preferably fitted with a closing device 43. With the piston 41 in the left hand position shown, mixed concrete can be charged into the cylinder 30 from the hopper 42: and when the cylinder is full, the device 43 can be closed. On the piston'31 of the cylinder 29 being moved towards the right, in the described manner, pressure will be exerted on the concrete in the cylinder 30.

The right head 44 of the cylinder 30 is provided-preferably near the lower edge with a discharge pipe 45., bent downward at its outer-end 46. W hen the device is actuated in the described manner, the concrete is forced through the pipe 45 and issues at 46 in a uniform thin continuous length and at shown), is preferably arranged close against the head 44 of the cylinder 30. This arrangement prevents any of the concrete from lodging and setting in front of the cylinder head and sidewise of the pipe 45 during the working process and necessitating setting the apparatus out of action at intervals.

A centrifugal wheel 50 is mounted, below the opening 46, in bearings 49 attached to the frame 10, which wheel is-illustrated in detail, in various embodiments, in Figs. 37, and is adapted to be set in rapid rotation about its horizontala'xis by means of an electromotor 51. As can be gathered from Fig. 2 this wheel rotates immediately in front of the revolving core 2, and projects the continuous length of concrete issuing from the opening 46 against the surface of the core in a uniformly finely divided condition. Through the rotation of the core on the one hand and the up and down movement of the frame 10 and attached parts on the other, the concrete is uniformly distributed over .the entire surface of the core.

The special detail construction of the centrifugal wheel'found to be particularly suitable as a result of numerous experiments, will not be considered. Centrifugal wheels which' beat against the concrete with flat surface in rapid rotation strikes at rightangles against a stationary mass of concrete,

the material; impinged upon is not projected in a direction tangential to that of the rotation of the wheel, but'is scattered as by an explosion, even laterally and towards the interior-of the wheel. In this way, the consumption of power and material is very greatly increased; at the same time, a large quantity of dust is produced, and, in admy centrifugal dition, uniform application of the concrete is eral dispersion of the concrete. Scattering ranged obliquely,

and-dash line in Fig. 5 and the middleportowards the interior of the wheel is prevented by ldottom flanges'57 and also by the solid rim of the wheel 50. Radial dispersion in the outward direction is'prevented, on the other hand by the concrete itself issuing at- 46 (see Fig. 5). The pipe is preferably provided with thickened walls 58, at the mouth 46, as shown in Fig. 5, these walls being machined at 59 in accordance with the radius of the correspondingly shaped shoes 53, only a central aperture 60 being leftfor the passage of the concrete.- In addition, the rear wall of each shoe may be aras indicated by the dottion of the shoe may be provided behind the surface 55, with grooves 61, which form' kind oflabyrinth packing, and prevent the discharge of any concrete in that direction. This arrangement ensures the whole of the concrete being projected in rection, as indicated by the arrows 62 in Fig. 5 and delivered direct on to the surface of the core.

The shoes 53 can be easily detached by loosening the screws 54, so thatworn shoes -.can be replaced at once, without much difficulty, for instance during the'time in ordi-.

nary working when a core or form 2 with a finished tube' is removed and a fresh one 15 connected to the shaft 4, so that the regular operation of the machine need not be interrupted for the purpose of replacing.

Figs: 6 and 7 represent a'somewhat modified centrifugal wheel, which is formed by shrinking, or pressing by hydraulic power, a solid ring 63 on to the rim of the wheel 50, said ring being provided with punchedor milled trapezoidal pockets 64. The narrow sides 55 of these ,trapezoids act in the same manner as the striker surfaces 55, andthe 4 side walls 56 act in the same manner asthe surfaces 56- of the shoes 53. In this case, the whole ring 63 is detached and replaced by a new one-when worn. This form also is simple and reliable in operation; but the embodiments according to Figs. 3-5 are preferred;

Having now described and illustrated my invention I declare that what I claim is as follows a tangential di-' of the said wheel,-

eating movement to the said vgheel and its cooperating parts in a direction parallel to the axis of the said form.

2. A device for the production of concrete pipes comprising a form rotatably support-' ed in such a manner that it may be rotated about its longitudinal axis, meansfor imparting a rotary movement to the said axis and the forin connected thereto, a guide parallel to the axis of the said form, a frame arranged to travel along the said guide up and downwards, means forimparting an up and downward movement to the frame, a horizontally arranged cylinder rigidly con-- nected to the said frame, a piston moving within the said horizontal cylinder, a hop per for filling the cylinder with concrete and arranged near the one end of thesaid horizontal cylinderin axial alignment with centrifugal wheel rotated before the opening of the said passage, means for supporting the said wheel at the said frame, means for imparting a rotary movement to the wheel.

3. A device for the production of concrete pipes comprising a form rotatably supported in such a manner that it may be rotated about its longitudinal axis being arranged in a vertical direction, aframe being arranged to travel along the said guide up and downwards, a lifting rope fixed to the said frame, a two-sheaved block tackle for] the said rope, rollers for leading the rope to the said tackle, a cylinder, a piston moving in the said cylinder, and connected to one sheave of the said block tackle, means for admitting fluid under pressure to the one side of the said piston and to remove it respectively regularly.

4. A device-for the production of concrete pipes comprising a form rotatably supported in such amanner that it'may be rotated about its longitudinal axis being arranged in a vertical'direction, means for imparting a rotary movement to the said axis and the form connected thereto, a guide parallel to the axis of the said form, a frame being arranged to travel along the said guide up and downsupports carrying the axis crside of the said wards, means for imparting an up and downward movement to the frame, a horizontally arranged cylinder rigidly connected to the said frame, a piston moving within the said horizontal cylinder, a hopper for filling the cylinder with concrete and arranged near the one end of the said horizontal cylinder in axial alignment with the said first cylinder, a horizontally arranged passage at the covhorizontal cylinder, being arranged below the axis of the cylinder near the periphery of the cylinder and the end of this passage being bent downward to open in a vertical direction, a centrifugal wheel, nieans for driving the said .wheel. of the said wheel connected to the said frame and holding the wheel in a vertical plane below the said opening.

5. A device for the production of concrete pipes comprising a form rotatably supported in such a manner that it may be rotated about its longitudinal axis being arranged in a vertical direction, means for imparting a rotary movement to the said axis and the form connected thereto, a guide parallel to the axis of the said form, a frame beingarranged to travel along the said guide up and downwards, means for imparting an up and downward movement to the frame, a horizontally arranged cylinder rigidly connected to the said frame, a piston moving within the said horizontal cylinder, a hopper for filling the cylinder with concrete and arranged near the one zontal cylinder in axial alignment with the said first cylinder, a horizontally arranged passage at the coverside of the said horiwheel, a

end of the said hori- Y memes near the said cover,- and means for impartmg a rotary movement to the said paddle Wheel.

6. A device for the production of concrete pipes comprising a substantially cylindrical form, a vertically arranged axle supporting the gear for rotating said form, centrifugal wheel, means for rotating the wheel, means for carrying concrete in a uniformly finely divided condition to thesaid centrifugal cylindrical peripheral rim at the centrifugal wheel, easily detachable blades fixed to the said rim, and means for imparting a reciprocating movement to the said wheel parallel to the axis of the said form.

7. A device for the roduction of concrete pipes comprising a su stantially cylindrical, form, a vertically arranged axle supporting the gear for rotating the said form, a centrifugal wheel, means means for imparting a reciprocating move ment to it in a vertical direction and par for rotating the wheel,

allel to the axis of the said form, means for F carrying concrete in a regular manner and in a finely divided condition to the said centrifugal wheel and blades at the said wheel acting upon the concrete by means of shoe-shaped surfaces, a peripheral rim at the said rim and means for detachably fixing the said blades at the rim.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

ALPHONS HORTEN. 

